The LA Phil Centennial Campaign will ensure that music is the soul of our city, now and 100 years now. The future begins with your investment today.

Centennial Campaign

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Why does the LA Phil need my gift?

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association - a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - is deeply appreciative of its donors and their support for our work on our stages and in the community. The LA Phil is a fiscally responsible institution that has achieved a balanced budget for each of the past 14 years because of the support of donors, who provide approximately 1/3 of the institution’s revenue each year.

Their generosity allows the LA Phil to provide the highest quality experience for our audiences of more than one million each year; to mount fearless and innovative programming on the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Hollywood Bowl stages; and to invest deeply in programs that serve 150,000 children, families and community members across Southern California.

What is the LA Phil’s Centennial Campaign?

The LA Phil has recently launched its Centennial Campaign in anticipation of the orchestra’s 100th birthday in 2019. The Campaign will ensure that the LA Phil remains artistically vibrant and continues to serve music lovers across Southern California and around the world.

Why is the LA Phil undertaking a campaign now?

A centennial is an opportunity and a challenge.

The opportunity is a celebration, a chance to reaffirm the LA Phil’s status as the best, most creative orchestra in the world. The challenge is a provocation: the world isn’t what it was 100 years ago, so what’s our place in it? How will the LA Phil remain a living, cultural force in the Los Angeles of tomorrow?

Though these challenges may seem formidable, for the LA Phil, opportunities abound — in artistry, welcoming new audiences, engaging young people and the community and making the most of two iconic venues: Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. Campaign resources will bring these opportunities, and so much more, to life.

What is the overall Campaign goal?

The LA Phil is embarking on a $500 million campaign to secure the future of this institution for its next 100 years and beyond.

Does the size of my gift matter to the LA Phil?

Every donation matters. Every donation counts. Your gift of any size helps ensure the LA Phil’s ability to provide one-of-a-kind musical and educational experiences to audiences now and in the future. We encourage you to explore the Centennial Campaign website and find the priority that matters most to you.

What is the LA Phil’s Endowment Fund?

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association’s Endowment Fund provides critical annual income that supports all aspects of the orchestra’s activities: performances, educational initiatives and recruiting the best musicians. Friends of the LA Phil who make endowment gifts help ensure the long-term health of this institution.

Every dollar donated to the endowment is invested and a portion of the value of the fund is paid out annually to support the LA Phil’s operating costs. Earnings in excess of this distribution are used to build the fund’s market value. In this way, the Endowment Fund grows and provides support for the institution in perpetuity.

Planned or estate gifts, including real property, trusts and appreciated securities, are often part of endowment gifts. Endowment gifts are fully tax-deductible within guidelines established under law.

How are the LA Phil’s Endowment Funds managed?

The policy of the LA Phil is to draw income each fiscal year from the endowment at the lower of the following two rates: a) 5% of a trailing 20-quarter average of the market value of the endowment or b) 5% of the market value of the Endowment Fund that is valued at June 30th of the preceding year. This policy provides a conservative approach to endowment draw and is periodically reviewed by the Finance & Investment Committee of the Board of Directors.

What options are available for planned/estate gifts?

The LA Phil welcomes bequests and gifts made as part of a donor’s estate planning. We also welcome all other forms of deferred/planned gifts made to the LA Phil as part of the Campaign, including but not limited to gifts designating the LA Phil as a beneficiary of retirement plan assets or life insurance, and split income gifts such as charitable remainder or lead trusts, charitable gift annuities or deferred gifts of real property (“Legacy Gifts”). For more information, please visit laphil.planmylegacy.org.

Are there any benefits associated with my gift?

You may qualify for benefits as a member of the Friends and Patrons of the LA Phil. Various benefits are provided based on your level of giving. Visit the Benefits page for full details.

How does a gift to the Campaign differ from a regular contribution to the LA Phil?

Campaign gifts enable the LA Phil to go above and beyond business as usual. They support everything from endowing principal chairs in the orchestra to sustaining the commissioning fund to launching a new YOLA site. During a Campaign period, institutions depend on loyal donors making annual fund gifts and then adding a special campaign gift. This is an opportunity to help the LA Phil leap forward to new levels of excellence and access. Campaign gifts can also be spread over the life of the Campaign, and sometimes include a planned estate gift.

To whom can I speak about my gift?

We encourage you to call the LA Phil’s Development Office at 213.972.7557 with any questions about making a gift to the LA Phil’s Centennial Campaign.